Diamonds - the hardest material on Earth
Diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth and is one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world. Its intense brilliance results from its unique crystal structure – yet diamonds come in shades from clear white to deep blue.
Symbolism & Meaning
For millennia, the diamond has been regarded as a stone of eternity, purity, and unwavering strength – revered by rulers and lovers alike.
Love & Fidelity: Diamonds represent eternal love and unbreakable bonds. They are believed to strengthen the heart and symbolize deep affection.
Protection & Strength: In many cultures, the diamond was considered the most powerful protective stone – it was believed to make its wearer invulnerable and ward off evil.
Royal Power: As the stone of kings, the diamond symbolizes authority, dignity, and divine favor – immortalized in the crown jewels of many nations.
Clarity & Enlightenment: The diamond is said to sharpen the mind, promote inner clarity, and ward off negative energies.
Birthstone: The diamond is the traditional birthstone for the month of April.
Zodiac Sign: Particularly associated with Aries and Libra.
Colors:
- Colorless/White (the classic white – highest quality, D–F on the GIA scale)
- Champagne (warm, golden hue)
- Yellow (vibrant, sunny tone – so-called Fancy Yellow)
- Pink (very rare and sought after – Fancy Pink)
- Blue (cool and noble – Fancy Blue, e.g. Hope Diamond)
- Green (very rare, created by natural radiation)
- Black (opaque, striking – Fancy Black)
- Red (extremely rare – the most valuable Fancy color diamond of all)
Cut & Shape
Diamonds are available in many classic and modern cut shapes:
- Cut: Round (Brilliant), Princess, Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear, Marquise, Heart, Trillion, Radiant, Asscher, Baguette
Inclusions & Characteristics
Diamonds are natural stones – inclusions are a sign of authenticity, not a flaw. The true nature of the stone only becomes apparent under a microscope.
Typical inclusions:
- Needles (fine crystal needles inside)
- Clouds (milky, diffuse inclusions)
- Feathers (partial fractures)
- Crystal inclusions (mineral crystals inside)
- Cavities (small hollows on the surface)
- Growth lines (zoning in the crystal)
Quality grades: Eye-Clean (no visible inclusions to the naked eye) is considered premium quality. The GIA scale ranges from FL (Flawless) to I3. Slight inclusions are normal in natural stones and only slightly reduce their value. Strong inclusions can impair transparency and brilliance.
Special feature: Some diamonds exhibit a characteristic fluorescence under UV light – usually blue – which, depending on its intensity, can make the stone appear milky or even more radiant.
Treatment & Authenticity
Natural diamonds are occasionally treated to improve their clarity or color. Transparency in declaration is a matter of course for us.
Laser Drilling: Fine laser channels are used to remove or lighten dark inclusions – must be declared, as it reduces value.
Fracture Filling: Fractures are filled with glass-like material to optically improve clarity – significantly reduces value, not in our assortment.
HPHT Treatment: High-pressure, high-temperature process for color change – must be declared, as it reduces value.
Untreated: Natural diamonds without any treatment – particularly valuable and certified by independent laboratories (GIA, IGI, HRD).
Authenticity Certificates: All our diamonds are natural stones. Upon request, we provide certificates from renowned laboratories (GIA, IGI, HRD, Gübelin). We do not carry synthetic or simulated stones.
The 4Cs – Diamond Quality Criteria
The quality of a diamond is globally assessed according to the so-called 4Cs: Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity. This system was developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and is now the international standard.
1. Carat (Weight)
The weight of a diamond is given in carats (ct). One carat equals 0.2 grams. The larger the stone, the rarer – and the disproportionately higher the price.
- 0.25 ct – approx. 4.1 mm diameter
- 0.50 ct – approx. 5.1 mm diameter
- 1.00 ct – approx. 6.5 mm diameter
- 2.00 ct – approx. 8.2 mm diameter
2. Cut
The cut is the only one of the 4Cs that is influenced by humans – and it has the greatest impact on brilliance. A perfectly cut diamond reflects light optimally.
- Excellent – maximum brilliance and fire
- Very Good – very high light reflection
- Good – good brilliance, slight deviations
- Fair – noticeably less brilliance
- Poor – significantly reduced light reflection
3. Color
The GIA color scale grades diamonds from D (completely colorless) to Z (distinctly yellow). The more colorless, the rarer and more valuable.
- D – F: Colorless – highest quality
- G – J: Near Colorless – very popular, hardly visible difference
- K – M: Faint – discernible to the naked eye
- N – R: Very Light to Light Yellow
- S – Z: Light to Distinctly Yellow
Fancy Color Diamonds (e.g., yellow, pink, blue) are graded using a separate system and can be extremely valuable.
4. Clarity
Clarity describes the presence of internal characteristics (inclusions) and external characteristics (blemishes). The GIA clarity scale:
- FL (Flawless): No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification – extremely rare
- IF (Internally Flawless): No internal inclusions, minimal external characteristics
- VVS1 / VVS2 (Very Very Slightly Included): Tiny inclusions, difficult to detect even for experts
- VS1 / VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Small inclusions, visible under magnification – very popular
- SI1 / SI2 (Slightly Included): Inclusions clearly visible under magnification, often eye-clean
- I1 / I2 / I3 (Included): Inclusions visible to the naked eye, affect brilliance
The Interplay of the 4Cs
No single C is solely decisive – only their interplay determines the overall value. A large diamond with a poor cut can appear less brilliant than a smaller, perfectly cut stone. We are happy to advise you on finding the optimal combination for your budget and preferences.
Synthetic Diamonds
In addition to natural diamonds, we also offer lab-grown diamonds. These are in no way inferior to natural diamonds in terms of hardness, brilliance, and chemical composition – they are simply created in a laboratory instead of in the earth.
Manufacturing Methods:
- HPHT (High Pressure-High Temperature): This method mimics the natural diamond formation process – carbon is pressed into a diamond under extreme pressure and high temperature. This method has been used since the 1950s and produces high-quality stones.
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): Carbon gas is vaporized onto a diamond seed in a chamber at low pressure – layer by layer, a diamond grows. This more modern method allows for particularly pure and large stones.
What are synthetic diamonds? Lab-grown diamonds are produced under controlled conditions with the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds – real carbon, real brilliance.
Advantages:
- Identical hardness and light refraction as natural diamonds
- Certifiable by GIA, IGI, and other renowned laboratories
- More attractive price-performance ratio
- Traceable and transparent origin
Note: We always clearly declare synthetic diamonds as such, and they are not mixed with natural diamonds. Transparency is a matter of course for us.
Diamonds at Phönix Gemstone
We source natural diamonds directly from their countries of origin – for jewelers, goldsmiths, and collectors who value quality and transparency. Each stone is carefully inspected and documented.
In addition, we offer lab-grown diamonds (HPHT & CVD) – with identical physical properties to natural diamonds, at a more attractive price-performance ratio. All synthetic stones are clearly declared as such.
Make an enquiry
Are you looking for a specific diamond for your next project? Contact us – we will put together a personal selection for you, whether natural diamond or lab-grown.